Great work by Al the past few days with his draft primers. Today's the day we hopefully pick up a blue chip prospect who'll be a big part of the team for the next decade. It's generally considered a weak draft, but with the fifth pick, we ought to get a talented player. Unfortunately, the top four collegiate players (Appel, Gray, Bryant, and Moran) could all conceivably be off the table by our pick, and after them, there seems to be a drop off in talent, unless you're taking a prep player...and, in that case, you're waiting 3-4 years to see them in the majors.

From everything I've seen, it sounds like it all comes down to what Houston does with the first pick. There are rumblings they may do what they did last year--overdraft for savings later in the pool--and, in that case, we may have a shot at one of the "big four." There's a snowball's chance in hell that we get Appel or Gray, but I would kill to get Bryant--a big time righty power bat who can play a corner position. A lot of projections are showing Moran could fall to us, too, and he would be a fine consolation prize, but he's yet another lefty who doesn't project to have as much power. If Bryant is still on the board at the fifth pick, I'll be very happy...provided, of course, we don't do another "Naquin and save" picks like last year, which I doubt they would do anyway with the loss of second and third round picks afterward.

Adverb Harry wrote: A lot of projections are showing Moran could fall to us, too, and he would be a fine consolation prize,

God I hope not. Cant play defense and alot of people are not sold on his power developing. I have not read a lot of nice things about him over the last year. Low floor not a very high ceiling.

If its between Meadows and Frazier I would take Meadows but then again I always think they need to draft a pitcher who they think can be a #1 starter so Im all for the highest rated pitcher if all things on their board are equal.

Meadows no way. Don't want to pay a guy who needs a mechanics overhaul. Adding 20-40 pounds to that swing is not going to matter. I had this discussion with a cross-checker I know who totally agreed with my analysis and he told he's had trouble convincing his scouts of the same thing so who knows. I am sure his team won't be drafting him, but a couple of his guys were pushing him.

Frazier to me has the upside potential and my son's team played against their team at East Cobb last year. Had them down 5-0 too and let it slip until Frazier hit a walk-off HR in the bottom of the 7th.

That said I am not so sure I don't want to see a big arm taken here. Good Stuff Al.

How the hell is Ryan Stanek 6'4" but only 180? I watched him pitch the other day and my son is 6'2" 210 and Stanek looked thicker and broader to me. Ehhh maybe my kid could be closer to 6'3" but still Stanek didn't look that light to me. It's not like the guy has peg legs do they re-measure these boys after their freshman year?

skatingtripods wrote:No disrespect to Al and his hard work, but wake me up in three years when we know if this guy actually has a shot at The Show and if there's any chance he can make an impact.

Well, the guy they took three years ago this month pitches tomorrow night.

It might not be him exactly, but it's what they turned him into.

I'm with dmiles: I'd draft 55 rounds worth of power arms, let them tear through Low A like crazy, see half of them dominate High A, half that half have success at AA, pump up their bios and get the PR machine rolling and sell half of that half to teams that need more Pomeranz's and Whites.

Yeah...a little hyperbole but...

The guys you draft high don't HAVE to make it big for you. They're assets if someone thinks they need them too. Before theprospect can prove they ain't.

Pitching is power. There's one guy on this Indians everyday lineup who was drafted and developed and is above league average. And they've picked a shitload of position players.

Pitchers, pitchers, pitchers. Have a surplus of that and you still don't have enough, but you can get anything else in the game with it.

Still would have liked to have gotten Bryant, but the chances were pretty slim on that happening, anyway. Frazier was my next choice. The instant gratification part of me likes college players just because they're theoretically closer to the bigs, but that's not always necessarily the case, and besides, athleticism trumps everything, and by all accounts, this kid has got that in spades. Hopefully in a year or two's time, we'll be talking about him in the same breath as Lindor...an untouchable elite prospect.

Frazier was the best performer of the high school hitters this spring, outshining Austin Meadows, a fellow Georgia product, showing plus power and a strong arm. The Indians' system needs talent and it's a bit of a surprise they went with a high school player, but Frazier qualifies as a best-player scenario. It'll be interesting to see where he ends up in pro ball, but the bat should play anywhere, despite the lack of physical projection.

The Indians came into the draft with pitching as one area of need, so perhaps they go in that direction in the next few rounds. -- Churchill

pup wrote:Let me get this straight. You can basically punt in the draft, take a guy, not sign him, leave yourself cash to go over slot on another guy and get rewarded with a higher pick next year?

Sign me up for that plan.

You lose the slot value if you don't sign a guy. And it's not a higher pick, it's the same slot. And, of course, you're not adding a top tier player to your system, so you better be damn sure that you're going to be getting a better deal next year.

Frazier brings strength, speed and power, plus an overt love of baseball to his game. He's the guy you want next to you in a foxhole, or on your team. He's that competitive and impressive. But he'll get even better.

Frazier's bat speed may be the component that sets him apart from the average good hitter. His muscular hands, wrists and arms get through the ball in a flash, generating line drives and loft with backspin.

With his hands held back nicely and his head down at the level of the ball, Frazier does not waste energy and timing on non-essential movement. His swing is measured and compact.

My concern with Frazier at this point rests entirely with his defense. I have seen him fooled badly on balls in the air in Arizona. Games are played at night, and the bright sun doesn't come into play. However, Frazier's recognition of the trajectory of the ball has been late at times. His routes need a great deal of work.

At this stage, I project Frazier to have less trouble and more success as a left fielder, even though he has awesome arm strength and can throw with the carry of a right fielder. Center field may continue to be a burdensome and unnecessary challenge. But time and experience may well smooth out his approach in the middle of the outfield. That's what a development program is intended to accomplish.

Look for Frazier to continue to develop his power and hitting abilities in the Indians' system. And he might even get stronger. His lofty Draft selection was very well deserved.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

Isn't that enough for you spoiled Indians fan? Now go out and by some tickets cheap ass.

.The Management

Management has never publicly begged for attendance. They say all the right things to the media about how they need to sustain consistent success before the people buy in and come back. I can't recall a single time that the front office blamed the fans or insinuated that the fans were the problem. They've always assumed the blame as far as I can recall.

They've done things on their end for this season. Hired an analytics firm to evaluate attendance trends and re-evaluate promotions. Spent plenty of money in the offseason. Lowered concession prices. The fans, by and large, have not responded, despite the team remaining in playoff contention into the final month of the season.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

Isn't that enough for you spoiled Indians fan? Now go out and by some tickets cheap ass.

.The Management

Jody Gerut was a Rockies pick.

Which is win-win for the Indians and for you. You were able to watch his brilliant ROY campaign and we were able to acquire him without paying his signing bonus.

Now are you going to buy some tickets or not? We're a contender you know and it is well documented on these web pages that we have the easiest schedule and are a lock for the WC. So buy some dynamic priced tickets -- my recommendation is wait until gameday and select lower deck reserved or better.